France condemns Nexta sentences

May 5, BPN. France has condemned the sentences handed to Nexta journalists.

Belarusian officials say Nexta, a news blog on a secure messaging app, was responsible for the post-election unrest in 2020.

On Wednesday, a Belarusian court sentenced Raman Pratasievič, the editor whose capture two years ago involved a false bomb threat and the forced landing of a passenger flight, to eight years in prison.

It also sentenced the Nexta founder, Ściapan Puciła, and journalist Jan Rudzik to 20 and 19 years in prison, respectively, without the defendants being present.

The EU-based Puciła and Rudzik were tried under special proceedings that target those living abroad and evading contact with investigators.

“Alaksandr Łukašenka’s regime has once again demonstrated its absolute disregard for freedom speech in particular and human rights in general. The judiciary has once again been used by the authorities to suppress any critical remarks about them,” the French embassy in Belarus said.

It called on the authorities to immediately free all political prisoners.

“France once again declares its support for the defenders of freedom of speech and human rights in Belarus,” it said.